Christian McBride with Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi

Christian McBride, the driving force behind this spectacular trio, is a jazz polymath whose current projects range from big-band modern jazz to high-energy contemporary funk and the left-field piano-free quartet New Jawn. His walking bass lines, slurs, and strums meld with pianist Franceso Turrisi’s delicate improvisation as Rhiannon Giddens’ classical vocal style, though dotted with other influences, sensuously stretches above the noise. The trio had what was only their second gig in July at London’s Wigmore Hall. Big Ears Festival is thrilled to host the Christian McBride trio for their first North American performance.